Unsung Princeton: Mountain-strong

How many residents just rolled their eyes, wondering why everyone not from Princeton always goes to that one thing? I hear you, residents.

As a proud born-and-raised resident of Leominster, we were beaten over the head with plenty about Johnny Appleseed. There is a certain nauseating, teenager-driven mentality to being embarrassed about getting excited about that one thing.

Yes, he is a folk hero.

Yes, he had quite a knack for planting those red fruits.

Yes, it is somewhat awesome he grew up a few miles from where I did.

At some point, as a resident, you get a little desensitized to the whole mystique. While the mountain is a sense of pride for most Princetonians, I’m guessing there are plenty of people shouting, “We are more than just a mountain here!”

It’s true, you are.

When I started here four months ago, the town I probably had the least amount of knowledge of was Princeton. I knew of the Mountain Barn Restaurant. I knew my coworker Phyllis Booth did–and still does- a phenomenal job covering the issues and people here. I knew… well…you know…that mountain.

Who needs that mountain anyway? I somehow survived living a stone’s throw from the summit and spent two years at college at the base of a beautiful Vermont mountain without using more than the lodge for hot chocolate or the venue for a chili cook-off/concert.

Number of times skiing or snowboarding for me: zero. Number of broken bones accrued: zero. I like to think there is a correlation.

I hope there is. I am lousy on other “shoes that move for you” such as roller skates and roller blades.

In the four months since I started here at The Landmark, I have interviewed a number of people who call Princeton home. I am starting to learn the lay of the land that fills in the rest of the town borders that does not include a certain ski-able collection of slopes.

I admit that I have a ways to go in order to call myself “knowledgeable” of this great town. While the picture is coming into view, it’s still a bit hazy…sort of like the view at the top of a jagged-rocklike formation.

All kidding aside about it, people of Princeton, rally around and embrace that mountain identity.

Although there is plenty to be proud of when you look around town, that mountain truly is something special to the town and Worcester County as a whole. It gives definition and character to you. I can moan all I want about the overabundance of Johnny Appleseed mentions in town, but the bottom line is he has given pride to an embracing community, and that is a great thing for any town to have.